True Conversion

Sweet friend, I want to talk with you today about some of the things I have faced on the covenant path as a message of love and encouragement. I’m thinking that you have probably faced similar things too along the way.

If you choose the covenant path, there will be opposition. It is a guarantee. That opposition may come in many forms. Today I would like to talk about it coming in the form of well meaning strangers, friends, and even family members pushing back against your walk.

I have had family members and others tell me I’ve joined a cult, that I “need help” to understand the Gospel properly (with reference to Galatians 1:8) and pointed me to a pamphlet by Billy Graham called “How to be a Christian”; that everything I hold most sacred is “bunk”, “bogus” “Not of God”, “insulting”, “embarrassing”, and have used the label “Mormon” as a hiss and a byword to describe my religious affiliation.

In the words of Moroni, “it mattereth not.”¹

Because, if you were to read on in Galatians 1 you would read these words- words that have held me, and comforted me, and reminded me time and time again as I keep walking;

“For do I now persuade men, or God?

or do I seek to please men?

for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.²

As an Endowed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I have covenanted to take upon me the name of Christ. To be His servant. To be His emissary. In the words of John, I “marvel not if the world hate me.”³

The Holy Spirit has also pointed me to these verses many times when I have faced criticism and ridicule;

“But behold the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever.”⁴

My favorite definition of righteous is not about virtue signaling or self-serving, self-righteous proclaiming of my goodness (trust me- I can’t do that in good conscience! I make plenty of mistakes and sins!) The word righteous is defined as “acting in accord with divine law”⁵, but I have also heard it defined as- “a person who lets God prevail in their lives”. A person who follows where the Savior leads them, and does what He asks.

I have seen a few posts on social media going around lately from some Christians stating that we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are not true Christians- this criticism is nothing new to us! However, the definition of a christian is “one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ”. ⁶The very name of our church is The church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints. To have our Christianity be called into question is baseless and unfounded.

I am not sure where you are on the covenant path. Maybe you are still investigating the church, maybe you are a new convert, maybe you were baptized decades ago, and maybe you grew up in the Church and got baptized at age 8. Wherever you are on the covenant path, I invite you to KEEP GOING. Stay strong. Renew your covenants at Sacrament Meeting each week. Recall all of the blessings you have received by being a member of Covenant Israel and serving the Lord in the temple and within His Church. You are doing a great work. Hold fast to the iron rod and keep partaking of the fruit and do not listen to the criticisms, the mockery and the groundless judgements.

I will never forget feeling humbled and nervous before my baptism- deciding to covenant with the Lord is a very big step! It felt even bigger to me since I was the first in my family to do so. I was reading the Book of Mormon for the very first time as well as the Doctrine & Covenants. My soul was comforted as I came upon this passage in D & C 6:

“Fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.”⁷

Fear not. Do good. Build your life upon the rock, Jesus Christ.

In Luke 12:32 we also read, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

The kingdom is ours. He will lead us along if we will only let him prevail despite all opposition.

Read “Fear Not to Do Good” by President Gordon B. Hinckley; Doctrine & Covenants 6:33-34, 36; Luke 12:32; 1 Nephi 8

Recall Have you found opposition on your walk on the covenant path? How have you responded?

Reflect How has Christ strengthened you against opposition? What are your holy rhythms that help you feel the full measure of the Spirit and keep walking?

Reclaim Reclaim the blessings that are promised to all covenant keepers who are faithful and true. Walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh.⁸

1. Alma 61: 9

2. Galatians 1:10

3. 1 John 3:13

4. 2 Nephi 9:18

5. From Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary

6. From Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary

7. Doctrine & Covenants 6:34 See also Luke 12:32

8. Galatians 5:16